International Criminal Gang Exposed for Fraudulent Banking Activities in Czech Republic and Ukraine
A transnational criminal gang was dismantled by law enforcement agencies in the Czech Republic and Ukraine, responsible for defrauding victims through fraudulent phone calls posing as officials from the Czech National Bank.
Crackdown on Criminal Network
Nine suspects have been detained in Ukraine, with operational bases discovered in Odesa, according to the Czech and Ukrainian authorities.
Operation SEIZED Assets
A video released by Ukrainian police showed the suspects in custody in a room filled with business phones and desks.
Tactics of the Criminals
The fraudsters used several techniques to target their victims:
- Persuaded victims their accounts were compromised and urged them to transfer funds to fake rescue accounts or install remote access software.
- Requested withdrawals of cash and asked victims to hand it over to bogus couriers.
Extent of the Damage
Between 2022 and 2023, the fraudsters made over 150 fraudulent phone calls, resulting in nearly 30 million Czech crowns ($1.2 million) in damages.
Coordinated Searches and Seizures
Last week, over 100 officers from both countries performed simultaneous searches and raids on various locations in Odesa, Ukraine, and seized computer equipment, mobile phones, cars, thousands of dollars in various currencies, drugs, and weapons.
Key Suspects and Organizations
Main Suspect
The main suspect, a 40-year-old Ukrainian man, is believed to have organized the criminal network.
Czech Suspect
A 50-year-old woman from the Czech Republic was also detained. She began as a fake operator, and her role quickly evolved into recruiting new members from Czechia. She placed job advertisements, communicated with potential members, trained them, and helped facilitate their departure to Ukraine.
Earnings and Consequences
Participants could earn up to 200,000 Czech crowns ($9,000) per month, depending on their skills.
Consequences for the Suspects
Ukrainian suspects could face up to 12 years in prison and confiscation of their property if convicted. Those awaiting extradition to the Czech Republic could face up to 10 years in prison.
Previous Successful Collaboration between Ukrainian and Czech Police
This marks the second collaboration between Ukrainian and Czech police forces to combat internet fraud schemes. In November 20XX, a criminal gang was dismantled that made millions through fraudulent phone calls using almost identical tactics. The police remain unclear if they were linked to the same gang.
Unrelated Cybercrime Incident
A separate cybercrime incident was disclosed in January, in which cybercriminals stole banking information through phishing websites and generated tens of thousands of dollars by calling their users, primarily in the Czech Republic, and tricking them into clicking on malicious links during transactions.